AP’s NEW DELHI As Amazon gets ready for one of the busiest shopping seasons of the year, employees in India have joined a walkout demanding better pay and working conditions.
Under the banner of “Make Amazon Pay,” about 200 delivery drivers and warehouse employees demonstrated in the nation’s capital, New Delhi. Some wore Jeff Bezos masks and banded together to protest the actions of the Seattle-based corporation.
Amazon facilities throughout the world replicated the Black Friday walkout, which kicks off one of the largest shopping weekends of the year, as employees demanded better pay, better working conditions, and union rights.
Amazon India did not immediately provide a statement.
Manish Kumar, a 25-year-old warehouse worker who participated in the New Dehli protest, stated, “Our basic salary is 10,000 rupees ($120), which should be at least 25,000 rupees ($295).” He also mentioned the atmosphere for working under pressure.
According to union leader Nitesh Das, the workers’ desire for the government to support them is the reason they took to the streets.
Similar demonstrations are planned in other regions of India as well as in other nations, such as the US, Germany, Japan, and Brazil, according to a statement from the Amazon India Workers Union. According to the statement, the protests will demand that Amazon respect its employees’ right to form unions, pay them properly, and make a commitment to environmental sustainability.
The union promised to present Mansukh Mandaviya, India’s Labor Minister, with a paper outlining its requests.
Due to India’s rapid economic growth, the gig economy has grown significantly, yet workers still endure subpar pay and challenging working circumstances.
Following local media accusations that laborers were being forced to work nonstop during the sweltering summer months, India’s National Human Rights Commission submitted a notice to Amazon in June 2023. Amazon India refuted the accusation.
The Associated Press, 2024. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. It is prohibited to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or redistribute this content without authorization.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!